A man was arrested after a police chase involving a stolen hearse, which contained a casket and a body.
Police in Los Angeles arrested 25-year-old James Juarez on charges of grand theft auto on Thursday after they said he stole a black Lincoln Navigator from outside a church the day before. Juarez allegedly stole the vehicle while a mortuary attendant was moving a different body from the Navigator into the church, but one casket still remained inside.
After the Wednesday theft, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office appealed directly to the thief, whose identity was not known at the time, over social media.
“Out of all the bad decisions you have made, at least make one good one & bring back the deceased person & casket inside the Navigator,” the sheriff’s office tweeted.
To the suspect(s) driving around in a Black Lincoln Navigator stolen from the 700 blk of Rosemead Bl just after 8PM today in uninc #Pasadena:
Out of all the bad decisions you have made, at least make one good one & bring back the deceased person & casket inside the Navigator. pic.twitter.com/Dvo7u94zL1
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) February 27, 2020
A person later called the police to report seeing the Navigator during rush-hour traffic on Thursday morning, and a brief chase ensued before the hearse crashed on the 110 Freeway at about 7:45 a.m. local time. An officer was involved in the crash, but no one was seriously hurt.
Police said the body was found undisturbed inside the casket, which was still in the back of the vehicle.
